Legendary Welsh Winger Gareth Bale announced Monday, January 9, that he would be quitting professional and international football with immediate effect. Brayz Media Sports desk brings you 15 interesting facts across Bale’s 17 seasons of playing football.
The announcement came at a point when no one expected it. The 33-year-old was just back from representing his country at the just concluded 2022 Qatar World Cup. He says the decision comes “ after careful and thoughtful consideration.”
However, Bale mentions that his “ decision to retire from international football has been, by far the hardest of my career. “ The versatile winger is most top goal scorer in his country.
Read Gareth Bale’s retirement speech
A number of people from the footballing world have come up with congratulatory messages for Bale’s illustrious career. England legend Alan Shearer tweeted “ congratulations on an incredible career.”
Forget the talk of friends mentioning “ incredible “ just to massage your ego, Bale’s career was really incredible as Shearer puts it. And now we take a look at the facts and records about Gareth Bale in no particular order:
The 15 Facts and Records about Gareth Bale
1. To begin with, it’s paramount to note the very beginning of Bale’s career. The very first chapter of this career began at Southampton at around age nine. While at school playing in a six-aside tournament, young Bale is recognized and duly brought into the Southampton team.
2. Bale first began playing in the left-back position at Southampton before moving to Tottenham Hotspur in 2007. It is at Spurs that he later transformed into the fearless Winger donning the famous Number 11 jersey.
Gareth Bale at Tottenham
3. When he was just 14 years, Bale’s School PE teacher, Gwyn Morris, had to write special rules which restricted Bale from playing one-touch football and not using his left foot. This was done with the intention of keeping his superior footballing skills in check.
4. At the age of 16 and 275 days, Bale became the second youngest player ever to play for Southampton on 17 April 2006. It was his debut in a game where his team beat Millwall 2-0.
5. In his career, Bale played for four clubs in four different Leagues for 17 seasons. Southampton – 2 seasons, Tottenham Hotspur – 7 seasons, Real Madrid – 8 seasons, and finally Los Angeles FC ( 1 season ). Though the Los Angeles FC stint lasted only seven months.
6. According to OptaJoe statistics, Gareth Bale is the only Bale to have scored a match-winning goal in two separate UEFA Champions League finals. ( 2013 – 14 and 2017 – 18 ).
7. Bale has the same number of Champions League trophies – 5 as Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo. Argentina World Cup hero Lionel Messi has 4.
8. Mailonline chose Bale’s stunning overhead kick for Real Madrid against Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League final as not only his best but also the greatest goal ever scored in a Champions League final.
9. Gareth Bale helped lead his team to the first World Cup since 1958, ending a 64- year waiting for Wales’s participation in the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Gareth Bale led his country to the Qatar 2022 World Cup after a 64-year wait
10. Despite looking up to fellow Welshman Ryan Giggs as his Idol, Bale actually surpassed his Idol being the most capped player in Wales history as well as being the country’s top scorer.
11. In 2013, Bale became just the third player to be named both PFA Young Player of the Year and Premier League Player of the Year in the same season. In the same year, he was also named FWA Young Player of the Year.
12. Bale is known to have been part of the Real Madrid trio dubbed BBC, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.
13. At Real Madrid, Bale was able to win five Champions League, three La Ligas, and three Club World Cups. At Los Angeles FC, he won the Supporter’s Shield and MLS Cup.
14. In 2006 Bale became the youngest player to represent Wales at a senior international competition. He went on to represent his country 111 times, scoring 44 goals.
15. In recognition of his services in sport and charity, Bale was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire ( MBE ) in 2022 Birthday Honours.
